Gila County, AZ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Gila County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Telegraph Fire in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Gila County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, lightning, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 98% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (85th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Gila County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1970, covering 5 disaster types including fire (9), flood (7), severe storm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fire | Telegraph Fire |
| 2020 | Fire | Griffin Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2020 | Fire | Bush Fire |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Fire | Water Wheel Fire |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1970.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively High | 99.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 93.1 | 176 | 21 | $77.6M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 59 | 5 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 86.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 13.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 7.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 29.3 | 13 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 41.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 86 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 94.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 24.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 77.6 | 3 | 0 | $100K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 58 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 9.1 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Gila County ranks in the 85th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 85th | High |
| Household characteristics | 61st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 77th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 84th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 97th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 98th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 50.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 194 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 65 in 2016–20 vs 129 in 2021–25 (+98% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Gila County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Gila County, Arizona are wildfire, lightning, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Gila County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Gila County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (9 declarations).
Has Gila County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Gila County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Telegraph Fire in 2021.
How does Gila County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Maricopa County, AZ has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very High) and Greenlee County, AZ has the lowest (Very Low). Gila County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Gila County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Gila County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Gila County's composite score of 90 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 90% of US counties.